Before buying a car, it’s not easy, you need to “try it on” for yourself. The crash test shows the weak points of the Lada Priora, which are then modernized. A test drive of the Lada Priora will make you understand how dynamic, passable, and easy to use the car is. You shouldn’t always rely only on your feelings - they can be clouded by emotions or stereotypes. An assessment by a person you trust is quite enough to make the final decision: whether the car is suitable for you or not. Hatchback, station wagon and sedan behave differently on the road, so you need to try the car on yourself.
Equally important: that in the event of a collision, the people inside will not be harmed, or how they will be harmed. The driver takes care not only of himself, but also of the passengers. To do this, factory samples of Lada Priora undergo crash tests, making them clearly visible what is happening inside the cabin, what injuries threaten the driver and passengers in a frontal collision. Crash test results for all cars depend on the build quality, so in any negative experiments it is the manufacturer that is always criticized.
Impressions from the Lada Priora test drive
The Priora is often found on city streets, which means it is not in vain that drivers choose it. Unlike other models of the Lada family, Priora is a city car in which you can go to the countryside. And the car body is selected based on the driver’s preferences. The Lada Priora station wagon is suitable for a family man, and the hatchback and sedan are suitable for a young driver.
A test drive of a Lada Priora station wagon with experience in using the car by domestic car enthusiasts gave feedback that the car is roomy and strong. The Priora sedan (as well as the hatchback) showed the same thing, except for one thing - they do not have such a reinforced suspension as the station wagon, and the rear part does not weigh as much, the driving impression changes.
Difficulties in replacement
Many users often have questions when replacing an old steering wheel with a new one.
Here are the answers to the most common ones. Question 1: Are mounts suitable for different models?
Answer: The mounts are identical, so the Priora 2 SE steering wheel is recommended for use on older models as well.
Question 2: I removed the steering wheel, but now I can’t put the new one back, it doesn’t work manually, what should I do?
Answer: If the part has been dismantled, then it can also be installed back. The steering wheel is installed by pressing your hands towards the shaft, without using tools like a hammer, but everything may not work out on the first try. There is no need to make sharp pushes of the steering wheel; a simple smooth press will be enough.
Question 3: Are additional components needed for the mechanism besides the steering wheel?
Answer: Yes, you still need to purchase a steering cable of the same model. Its installation is carried out similarly to the old version.
Question 4: The steering wheel is stuck after installation, what should I do?
Answer: Most likely, the steering cable is installed incorrectly. Disassemble the structure and reassemble it, adjusting the position of the cable in advance.
Control and comfort
Lada Priora, after restyling, was presented to the car enthusiast with his favorite “mechanics” and with a robotic automatic transmission. If everything is clear with the mechanics (except that in the restyled version the gear ratios of the second and third gears were slightly changed), then many encountered a robotic gearbox for the first time.
The robot itself decides when to change gears and gives commands to the transmission to change gears. The driver can only keep an eye on the road while enjoying driving. However, this innovation was not created in order to be distracted by a smartphone. Having become a breakthrough in the work of the Volga car, it came in handy in a city traffic jam - while everyone is frantically switching between “neutral” and first gear, Prior owners with AMT are free to free themselves from this annoying activity.
A test drive of a Lada Priora hatchback, sedan with the new AMT saw a positive response, among journalists - it would seem that the plant has not received such enthusiastic reviews about things “incompatible” with the Priora for a long time. It is fair to note that after a couple of thousand kilometers, problems arose with the robotic gearbox, but they were corrected without recalling batches - in fact, “on the spot”, in service centers.
These mistakes can be forgiven for AvtoVAZ, at least because they presented their entire automatic transmission development for the first time, and also because they again equipped the car with the best additions. In the “top” configuration, the car will have air conditioning, heated seats, and also very comfortable front seats, made in the style of sports, so that when entering a turn, the side bars of the seat back hold the driver and passenger.
Family cars
LADA Priora
Created on the basis of the VAZ-2110 sedan.
LADA Priora Premier (VAZ-21708)
— a version of the sedan extended by 175 mm. Small-scale production has been carried out by AvtoVAZ's partner, Togliatti, since November 2008. Equipped with a 1.8-liter VAZ-21128 engine with a power of 100 hp. With. In 2008, 26 limousines were assembled; in 2009, it was planned to assemble 200 “premiers”.
LADA Priora CNG
— bi-fuel version of the sedan. When driving, it uses not only gasoline, but also compressed natural gas (methane).
LADA Priora Sport
— sports version of LADA Priora.
- Bi-fuel Priora CNG on compressed natural gas
- Stretch sedan LADA 21708 Priora Premier produced
LADA Priora hatchback
The car is a deep modernization of the VAZ-2112 with a completely changed body design, including the rear part with original lighting equipment and body panels. Produced from autumn 2008 to 2022. It had 1.6-liter engines with a capacity of 81, 90, 98 and 106 hp. With. Despite the presence of a common successor in the form of the LADA Vesta, a replacement for the hatchback was never released.
Lada Priora station wagon
LADA Priora station wagon
Created on the basis of the VAZ-2170 sedan. Serial production of commercial vehicles began on May 27, 2009. By the end of May, 250 new station wagons were produced according to plan, and sales through the dealer network began on June 20, 2009.
The car is a deep modernization of the VAZ-2111 with a completely changed body design, including the rear part with original body panels and lighting equipment. The rear side windows are installed without plastic covers; their shape has changed (they expand towards the top). The rear lights from the door were moved to the body and installed in a vertical layout. There are brackets on the wheel arches of the trunk to secure the cargo.
The export version of the car was initially supposed to be equipped with an Italian-made diesel engine.
LADA Priora Coupe
Coupe prototype presented in 2007 A small-scale AvtoVAZ model with a 3-door body based on a 5-door model, designed to replace the similar VAZ-21123 model of the LADA 110 family. Production began in 2010 and ended at the end of 2014.
More than 150 original parts and assemblies were developed for the car: rear wings, body frame parts, front doors, roof, side windows and glass seals, decorative body trims, wheel rims, upholstery. The backs of the front seats were made folding, and their frame was reinforced. Otherwise, the car is no different from the five-door hatchback in luxury configuration.
Before small-scale production began, the car passed all state certification tests: measurements of external and internal noise levels, assessment of brakes, stability and handling, testing of the strength of seats and their mounting locations, assessment of electromagnetic compatibility and a number of other tests. The crash tests carried out (frontal impact, rear impact, side impact, etc.) showed that the LADA Priora Coupe complies with the standards in force in Russia with a reserve.
LADA Priora Coupe was produced at AvtoVAZ pilot production. Previously, its predecessor was produced here - a three-door car based on the LADA 112. The LADA Priora Coupe differs from this model in a more comfortable interior, a more powerful engine and a wider range of options. The basic equipment of the car includes electric windows, air conditioning, light sensor, rain sensor, parking sensors, anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger airbags, front seat belts with a pre-tensioning and force limiting mechanism, heated seats, alarm with central locking and immobilizer.
In 2013, the LADA Priora Coupe received an upgrade: in addition to the new “SPORT” prefix, it is distinguished by sporty-style bumpers and leatherette seat upholstery.
Off-road test: cross-country ability
An important detail: know about the vehicle’s cross-country ability. For example, the famous Zhiguli cars are used in rural areas because they last forever, can help in the household - they are good off-road.
Few people have conducted a test drive off-road, however, the “outside viewer” has something to judge by. The car with a ground clearance of 165 mm has a good suspension, and due to its relatively low weight (curb weight is 1088 kg), it seems to “fly over” holes, bumps, and potholes. Of course, this is not a Lada 2121 (Niva), and it is front-wheel drive, but the Priora can also take its owner to the river.
The car was designed as a city car, but it is not intended for constant driving in rural areas. By the way, when developing the Lada Priora station wagon, they provided for the possibility of fully loading the trunk, strengthened the suspension - the car will definitely not “sit down”, and the exhaust system will not be damaged.
Troubleshooting
When srs is on, a strictly verified sequence of actions is needed:
- At first, the system works on its own - it checks its functionality when the ignition is turned on, and if an error is detected, it records its code;
- then the mechanic comes in - he reads the code and determines the cause of the breakdown;
- the system is checked with specialized diagnostic equipment;
- repair operations are carried out;
- The control unit memory is updated.
Every car owner, before leaving the garage, first checks the functionality of all car systems. To do this, he looks at the instrument panel indicators. Among others, the Airbag indicator deserves special attention.
Test results: sedan, hatchback, station wagon
The Lada Priora test for “durability” in daily trips on urban off-road shows excellent results - cars 5-8 years old are still alive, ready to continue working for the benefit of their owners.
The Prior tests/reviews carried out immediately after the presentation of the restyling are not particularly different for the hatchback and sedan; these are actually two slightly different bodies that were endowed with the same “filling”. Modified engine with a power of 106 hp. Owners of restyled Priors liked it because it gave the car fast acceleration and increased the maximum speed. The station wagon immediately proved itself as a family car, capable of withstanding almost any load in the trunk.
What is a Priora airbag?
In appearance, the airbag looks like an elastic bag; it immediately begins to fill with air after an impact. Such a vital element will perfectly complement the safety belt - the protection of the driver sitting behind the wheel should increase several times. In the Priora today, only the driver’s seat will be equipped with an inflatable airbag; the desire to install them on additional passenger seats is already a retrofit. Very often it is carried out in connection with the wishes of the client in the relevant service centers.
This indicator is also important: everything will depend on how rigid the object with which the collision occurs. If it is capable of deformation, then the system will come into action at a speed that exceeds 25 km/h, only with frontal interaction.
Priora crash test: dummies buckled up
The Priora crash test was carried out according to Euro CEP standards. At the stand, where the Priora was presented with elements of the maximum configuration (that is, not only the driver, but also the passenger had an airbag), the car was accelerated to a speed of 54 km/h, then a frontal collision was simulated.
The result showed that the driver’s knees, shins, and head were highly susceptible to damage: the pillow did not fix the dummy’s head so strongly; it “dangled” in the air for several moments. The passenger was luckier; the mannequin's head was slightly injured. The front pillar on the driver's side went a couple of centimeters into the cabin, the dashboard and steering column “broke”, flying in large fragments directly at the driver.
Compared to the previous test, Priora still achieved better results, and all due to the changed power structure of the body. The only big negative is that the passenger airbag is not available in all trim levels.
Removing the MNPBP
Remove the glove box cover. Unscrew nuts 5, Figure 15, securing module 1 to bracket 3.
- Crash test Lada Largus
Through the opening of the glove box, alternately acting on the clamps 4 of the MNPBP facing cover, feeding from below, remove the MNPBP from the instrument panel.
Without putting tension on the wiring harness to the MNPBP, use a flat screwdriver to remove the latch from the L-shaped block attached to connector 6 of the MNPBP, then, without applying additional lateral forces, disconnect the L-shaped block from the module and remove the MNPBP module.
Place the non-activated NABP module on a flat surface with the facing cover facing up.
If you dismantle the triggered air conditioning module, check the serviceability of the wiring harness to the air conditioning module. If damage to the block to the air pressure control module, a break or short circuit of the wires to the air pressure control module is detected, replace the harness.
Installation of MNPBP
Before installing the MNPBP, visually verify that there are no mechanical damages and that there is a label with a bar code and identifying number on the module.
When installing a new NABP module, tear off part of the label with a barcode from the module and paste it into the “Special Notes” section of the service book, indicating the installation date and mileage of the vehicle, and the reason for replacement.
While in the car, bring the air conditioning air conditioning module to the installation location in the instrument panel, without applying lateral forces, insert the L-shaped block of the instrument panel wiring harness into connector 6 of the air conditioning air conditioning module until a characteristic locking click is obtained.
Insert the retainer into the L-shaped block until it clicks.
Crash test of Lada Granta with two airbags (+ video)
Before installing the clamp in the L-shaped block, the airbag module is in the transport position, the contacts of the igniter connector are bypassed.
Install the air pressure control module into the instrument panel and secure the air pressure control valve cover into the instrument panel. Screw and tighten nuts 5 securing the MNPBP to bracket 3. The tightening torque of the nuts securing the MNPBP is from 8 to 16 Nm (from 0.8 to 1.6 kgf.m).
Lux Priora: crash test, are there any differences
Lux Priora is someone's dream. And not only because multimedia and additions are installed inside it, raising the car to a new level, but also because the reinforced body and two airbags clearly speak in favor of preserving the lives of those who drive the car. However, everything inside is almost standard: the steering column breaks, the pedals fly off. But the chance of survival clearly increases.
The choice of Lada Priora as a workhorse, first, or family car is justified: the car is unpretentious in repair and maintenance, “with character,” “alive” in driving, and is ready for bad weather and harsh road surfaces in Russian cities.
How do Prior airbags work?
The essence of the action of the gas-generating element located in the pillow is as follows:
- The gas generator itself will produce gas directly inside the module: it will fill the airbag.
- Here, a substance of pyrotechnic origin will be ignited with the help of a fuse, which is built into the body of this gas generator itself.
There are two types of gas generators:
- pyrotechnic;
- hybrid.
The first will consist of a body that will be filled with a solid pyrotechnic substance and the igniter itself. As for the second, it will consist of a casing material containing compressed gas of inert origin, as well as all the components already listed above.
Priora airbag test
The gas generator will operate according to the following algorithm:
- When struck, an electrical signal will be generated.
- The electrical resistance will heat up and ignite the pyrotechnic substance.
- The rest of the mass ignites.
Buy in the online store, best prices, inexpensive delivery
As the advertisement says: “Lada Priora is the first Russian car equipped with an airbag as standard.” But even just being equipped with an airbag cannot guarantee good protection in an accident. The crash test of the Priora was carried out according to the EuroNCAP method. Initially, the body withstood the impact. Not bad already! But alas... The broken Priora, despite the efforts of the designers who created a car different from the previous ones, instantly turned outwardly into its “big sister” “ten”
As the advertisement says: “Lada Priora is the first Russian car equipped with an airbag as standard.” But even just being equipped with an airbag cannot guarantee good protection in an accident. The VAZ Priora crash test was carried out using the EuroNCAP method (see video). Initially, the body withstood the impact. Not bad already! But alas... The broken Priora, despite the efforts of the designers who created a car different from the previous ones, instantly turned into its “big sister”, the “ten”, in appearance. The driver's door was able to withstand, but the fracture of the windshield pillar increased. The situation in the cabin is similar: the steering wheel has moved slightly to the right and up, and the front panel has been torn off. During the impact, the dummy slid off the airbag to the left and hit the instrument panel. True, the blow was not strong, it is not capable of leading to serious injuries. It is worth noting that the legs of the “driver” and “passenger” were not pinched, there was enough space left for them to be able to get out of the wrecked car on their own (see photo of the Priors crash test). It turns out that the airbag deployed, but did not work properly: due to the steering wheel shifting to the right, the driver's head rolls to the left from the airbag dome. For this, during a crash test on a Priora VAZ, one point is deducted as a fine. However, it is a relief to see in the video that both driver and passenger are not at risk of serious injury or harm. Comparing the Priora with other tenth-generation cars, it turned out that the latest VAZ model is not much safer than the previous ones, despite the airbag and updated interior! The 2011 Priora crash test did not allow it to score the four points promised by the engineers and developers of the model, while receiving 4 penalty points. The first penalty point has already been mentioned above - this is the unstable position of the driver's head when in contact with the airbag. The organizers of the Priora crash test had to remove two more points for the high probability of kneecap injuries. And the fourth point, in accordance with the crash test rules, had to be removed because as a result of the impact there was a violation of the integrity and displacement of the front passenger seat. It turns out that in fact the Priora is not much safer than the cars of the tenth family and Kalina - even despite the driver's airbag and the new interior! But what about the four promised stars? After all, if we add 5.7 points for the frontal crash test with a nine-point score for the side impact, which we “incidentally” received during our experiments with unfastened dummies in Priora (see AR No. 10, 2007), then we get only 14.7 points out of 32 possible. And these are only two stars out of five. Of course, for a twenty-year-old design, two EuroNCAP stars will do: anything is better than their absence. But for the 2007 model... It won’t be enough! And the reason for the lack of points and stars is offensively simple: Priora went into production... unfinished! In fact, with a regular “ten” body. The VAZ people themselves call the current Priors “phase I”. This story, unfortunately, is typical for AvtoVAZ. Remember our story about the Chevrolet Niva crash test? Then it turned out that the production car scores only 1.6 points out of 16 possible in the frontal crash test. Knowing this, employees of the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture invited us to a crash test of an experimental Chevy Niva with a reinforced body and two airbags, which was being finalized in Tolyatti with the participation of Saab specialist Stefan Olsen. It turned out that the Chevy Niva with a reinforced body scores as much as 12.5 points! Then we were promised that such Nivas would hit the assembly line in April 2004. How many years have passed since then? But there were no reinforced bodies, and there are no... Will the same story repeat itself with the Priora?
Removing seat belts with pretensioner
Unscrew the two screws securing the trim 1, Figure 15, of the rear door threshold, remove the trim.
Remove the trims and caps from the seat belt bolt heads.
Unscrew bolt 4, Figure 16, securing the belt branch 3 on the floor threshold.
Remove the lower trim 2 of the central pillar.
Disconnect block 1, Figure 17, from inertial coil gas generator 2.
Unscrew bolt 1, Figure 18, securing the seat belt bracket 2 on the central pillar.
Unscrew bolt 3, Figure 17, securing reel 2 and remove the front seat belt with the reel assembly.
Unscrew the bolt securing the front seat belt buckle to the seat bracket and remove the buckle.
Installing seat belts with pretensioner
Install seat belts in the reverse order of removal.
After opening the locks, seat belts must return from their working position to their original position freely without jamming.
Before installing the seat belts, remove the transport washers. The tightening torque of the seat belt bolts is from 18 to 32 Nm.
After completing work on removing/installing the components of the SNBP, connect the ground wire terminal to the battery.
When connecting the ground wire terminal to the battery, the ignition must be turned off. In this case, no one should be inside the car.
Check the functionality of the SNPB
For safety reasons, the first time you turn on the ignition on a vehicle with a replaced driver airbag module, proceed as follows:
— open the driver’s door;
— without sitting on the seat, with your right hand, placing it under the steering wheel, turn on the ignition, while the head of the specialist performing this operation should not be between the steering wheel and the driver’s seat.
After turning on the ignition, if there are no faults, the diagnostic indicator (orange symbol) should turn on for 3-4 seconds and turn off.
Turn off the ignition.
When removing/installing the steering wheel by pressing the switches located in the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel, make sure there is a sound signal.
Possible malfunctions
One of the most common malfunctions in the operation of airbag systems for a Priora is the moment when the light comes on, indicating a malfunction, and the sound signal disappears. This indicates that the cable itself will have to be repaired: it is responsible for the connector at the airbag on the steering wheel itself (its other name is Airbag Clock-spring).
Lada Priora airbag explosion
We already know it as a connecting element directly to the rotation device. Here's what you need to do here:
- You can identify this error using a diagnostic scanner (to connect it, we find its block at the back of the glove compartment).
- The control system unit error is read.
- A flashing of the entire system is required, which can be carried out by a specialist using a special programmer device.
